بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
-
"Every soul of this earth will taste death" {Quran 3: 185}

Saturday, 21 July 2012

The Holy month of Ramadan

Allah chose the month of Ramadan to send down
the Glorious Qur’an to bring mankind out of darkness and oppression
into light and guidance.
It is a month in which the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of
Hell are closed, the Shaytaan is chained, the rewards of good deeds are
multiplied, people rise to higher levels in Jannah (paradise), and evil
deeds and sins are forgiven.

Muslims are required to fast during the day making sure that they avoid
the things which would invalidate it- from vain talk and idle play to
backbiting, spreading tales, and lying. Muslims are required to bring
life to the nights of Ramadan through prayer and reciting Qur'an. In
this month, extra care should be taken of the poor and needy by giving
charity and showing them other forms of righteousness. They are
required to strive against their own selves by increasing deeds of
obedience and avoiding all sinful acts. Allah says
O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, even as it was prescribed for those before you, that ye may ward off (evil). The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 2, Verse 183

Allah says in the Qur'an:
The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for
mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between
right and wrong). So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first
night of) the month (of Ramadan, i.e., is present at his home), he must
observe sawm (fasting) that month, and whoever is ill or on a journey,
the same number [of days which one did not observe sawm (fasting) must
be made up) from other days. Allah intends for you ease, and He does not
want to make things difficult for you. (He wants that you) must
complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allah for
having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him. The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 2, Verse 185
The Virtue of the Qur’an

Allah said:
…a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong).
Here Allah praised the Qur’an, which He revealed as guidance for the
hearts of those who believe in it and adhere to its commands. Allah
said:
and clear proofs meaning, as clear and unambiguous signs and
unequivocal proof for those who understand them. These proofs testify to
the truth of the Qur’an, its guidance, the opposite of misguidance, and
how it guides to the straight path, the opposite of the wrong path, and
the distinction between the truth and falsehood, and the permissible
and the prohibited.
The Obligation of Fasting during Ramadan

Allah said:
So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the
month (of Ramadan, i.e., is present at his home), he must observe Sawm
(fasting) that month.
This verse requires the healthy persons who witness the beginning of the
month, while residing in their land, to fast the month. When Allah
ordered fasting, He again mentioned the permission for the ill person
and the traveler to break the fast and to fast other days instead as
compensation. Allah said:
…and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number [of days which
one did not observe sawm (fasting) must be made up) from other days.
This verse indicates that ill persons who are unable to fast or fear
harm by fasting, and the traveler, are all allowed to break the fast.
When one does not fast in this case, he is obliged to fast other days
instead. Allah said:
Allah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you.
This verse indicates that Allah allowed such persons, out of His mercy
and to make matters easy for them, to break the fast when they are ill
or traveling, while the fast is still obligatory on the healthy persons
who are not traveling.
Remembering Allah upon performing the Acts of Worship

Allah’s statement:
…and that you must magnify Allah for having guided you
means: So that you remember Allah upon performing the act of worship. This is similar to Allah’s statement:
So when you have accomplished your Manasik (rituals) remember Allah as
you remember your forefathers or with far more remembrance. The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 2, Verse 200
and:
.and glorify the praises of your Lord, before the rising of the sun
and before (its) setting. And during a part of the night, glorify His
praises, and after the prayers. The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 50, Verse(s) 39-40
Similarly, several scholars have stated that reciting Takbir(i.e. saying
Allahu Akbar) during ‘Id-ul-Fitr was specified by the verse that
states:
(He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allah for having guided you...

Allah’s statement:
…so that you may be grateful to Him.
means: If you adhere to what Allah commanded you, obeying Him by
performing the obligations, abandoning the prohibitions and abiding by
the set limits, then perhaps you will be among the grateful.
Therefore, it is the duty of every muslim to make full utilization of
the month of Ramadan by devoting his/her time to prayers, reciting of
the Qur'an, performing righteous deeds and abstaining from evil deeds
and praising Almighty Allah for all the favours that He has bestowed
upon us and seeking His blessings and pleasure so that he/she may rise
in rank in the eyes of Almighty Allah as Allah states that the only
criteria to distinguish men is piety and righteousness and not race,
wealth, social status or any of the other things which are serve as
distinguishing criteria in the eyes of humans.

"O Mankind!
Most certainly, it is
We( God Almighty) who have
Created you all
From a single (pair)
Of a male and a female,
And it is We (God almighty) who have made you into
Nations and tribes,
That ye may recognise each other
(Not the ye may despise each other.)
Verily the noblest of you
In the sight of Allah
Is (he who is) the most
Righteous of you." The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 49, Verse 13